Mulch or no mulch and right water retention ring

[GreenMamaFL]

Hi! I am in desperate need is some guidance. I get conflicting informations if I should lay down mulch on my newly planted sabal palm. I created a water retention ring 3ft around the trunk and left a 1ft buffer so the mulch don’t get near the trunk but that is causing the water to not reach the trunk and I feel like it’s not gonna get enough water. Question is should I remove the mulch or keep it?

also does my water retention ring look okay?

should it be more like sloping towards the trunk?

this is my first palm and I desperately want it to grow🥺 I’m in FL 9B

[dmc]

Looks fine I wouldn't worry.  Good luck.

[Johnny Palmseed]

I agree it looks fine. It will take some time for it to recover from the transplant but keep watering it and the roots will grow. Then, after it is established will you see more top growth. Keep the mulch for sure and add more over time as it will deteriorate, float away, get kicked up by lawnmowers, etc…

[SeanK]

That entire annulus needs to be filled with water twice daily if you're not getting rain.

[Merlyn]

That seems reasonable, though you don't really need a full foot of mulch clearance.  The general rule is just "not touching the trunk" with mulch.  In habitat these have decaying plant matter all around them and up touching the trunk anyway, and I've seen them growing happily submerged in swamps. 

[sonoranfans]

no problem keep the mulch.  It will take some time since it was pruned for shipping.  Water every day for a month, omit a day if you get a good rain.  Ive seen these growing, pushing spears laying down.